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Chapter 21

It took Steve about ten minutes to regain his composure after his mother's departure. He realized he had been very, very close to killing her. He gathered his team to explain his decision to follow Charlie and settle with him. Although they were all saddened by his departure, they understood his choice, especially after the recent attack on the Englishman. He also asked them to drop the investigation into the assault since they were leaving and didn't want to have to come back for it. He saw that nobody was convinced, but they didn't voice their concerns.

Steve pulled Danny aside to tell him he was going to officially request the governor to promote him as the head of the team and that he wanted to leave his house to him. The family man initially wanted to refuse, but he eventually accepted, tears in his eyes. The two men hugged, and Steve left the office. He first went to the governor's office, where his request was accepted. Then he headed to the military base to submit his resignation. After that, he went to the police station to inform them that there was a squatter in his house.

Back at Five-0's offices, Steve printed a residence agreement for Danny to sign before sending it to a notary for registration. It was now time to say goodbye to his Ohana.

"Be happy over there with him," Chin said, hugging him.

"You made the right choice," Kono added.

"Call, okay?" Danny asked, tears in his eyes.

Saying goodbye to his friends, especially his second-in-command, his best friend, was much harder than he had imagined. He held onto the blond for a long time before, with the help of his friends, he loaded their bags into his car trunk. A second round of hugs followed, and Steve set off for the beach. There were still two people he wanted to say goodbye to. He ordered two shrimp plates and sat down across from Catherine.

"So, you're going to his place?" she asked with a smile.

"It's always been him, Cath."

"I know, I've always known. I think I was one of the few people at the base who figured out your secret."

"Why didn't you ever say anything?"

He was quite surprised to learn that his life had been a tangle of deception all along.

"Well, there was that contract with your mother. I didn't know when I signed it—I was too young. But later, I realized that if I didn't do everything to win you over, she would put a bullet in my head."

"But you came to warn me that she was going after Charlie."

"I really care about you, Steve, and I couldn't let her mess up your life more than she already had."

There were a few minutes of silence during which they looked at each other as if seeing each other for the first time.

"Thank you, Catherine. From the bottom of my heart, you probably saved his life."

"It was the right thing to do."

"Do you think she'll come after you?"

"I don't know. Anyway, I'm leaving tomorrow, I'm redeployed."

"Without all this, we could've been friends."

"We could've, but we can't rewrite the past. Be happy, Steve, you deserve it."

"Thank you, you too."

The young woman got up and left. The former military man was glad he had had that conversation with her. This time, he had hope that Charlie wouldn't hold any grudges against her. He watched the sunset; he had spent the day sorting out the details of his departure and was now eager to reunite with his man. However, he still had one difficult conversation left.

He dialed his sister's number, feeling a knot in his stomach.

"Hey, Steve! How are you?"

"Hey, Mary, can you sit down, please?"

"What's going on? Who died?"

"No one, but the news I have for you might shake you."

Once she assured him she was sitting, he recounted everything about the investigation he had conducted to find Shelburne after their mother's return to Hawaii, ending with Doris's homophobic remarks and the attack on Charlie.

"Oh my god, how is he?"

"He'll recover, but all this has put a lot of things into perspective, and I'm leaving Hawaii."

There was silence after this statement, and Steve began to worry about what was going through his sister's mind.

"Do you think it's her?"

"Who did what?"

"Attacked your redhead."

"I don't know, but I'm not going to keep risking his life by staying here."

Another silence followed. Steve wasn't trying to paint a horrible picture of their mother to his little sister, but he had to tell her the truth to protect her.

"So, our mother is a manipulator who faked her own death and tried to dictate your life. Do you think she did that to me too?"

"I'm sorry to burden you with all this, Mary."

"No, no, I'm glad to know. I won't set foot in Hawaii again in my life."

"Mary..."

"Steve, will you tell me where you're going to settle?" she interrupted.

"Promise, as soon as we've unpacked, I'll tell you how to find me."

"Great, I've never been to Europe, you'll show me around."

"Of course."

"Steve."

"Yes?"

"Take care of yourselves, okay?"

"Of course, take care of yourself too."

After hanging up, he put his head in his hands. He knew his sister was pretending to take it well, but he expected her to break down soon. He promised himself to check on her very soon. Perhaps he'd arrange for her to visit them in the coming weeks. They had spent so many years apart; he didn't want to lose her again after finding her. He spent another half hour at the table, watching the sea and finishing the shrimp. He had no regrets about his decision, but he also knew he would miss all this.

He was saying goodbye to Kamekona when he spotted his mother in a black car in the parking lot. He sighed; he didn't want to confront her again or create a scene on the beach.

"Need help, bro?" Kamekona offered.

The food truck owner had been following Steve's problems with his mother and got out of his truck with a large tray of shrimp.

"Parting gift, bro, go ahead."

The former military man smiled and hurried to his car. He started it and left the parking lot, glancing in his rearview mirror. He was relieved to see that Kamekona, half inside his mother's car, was holding her back. Thanks to him, Steve was able to reach the entrance to the no-maj section of the magical clinic.

 Once again, his badges served as a pass, and he parked in the courtyard. He left all their belongings in the trunk before heading to Charlie's room. Charlie wasn't alone. A man Steve had never seen before was sitting on the edge of his bed, holding his hand. The two were engaged in a conversation that combined languages in a way that made understanding their discussion almost impossible.

He knocked on the slightly open door, and both turned their faces toward him.

"Steve!" his lover greeted him with a smile.

"So, it's him," the other man said.